Washoe Rescuers Track Missing Kayakers

RENO, NV - The Washoe County Sheriff's Office RAVEN Helicopter Unit, Search and Rescue and HASTY Team members are being credited with saving the lives of two missing kayakers at the Stampede Reservoir in Truckee, California late Monday night.

The Sheriff's RAVEN Flight Crew, Search and Rescue and HASTY Team members responded to Stampede Reservoir at the request of the Sierra County Sheriff's Office. The Sierra County Sheriff's Office requested our assistance in locating the adult husband and wife kayakers who had been reported missing.

RAVEN, Search and Rescue and HASTY Team members began searching the area when they located the male on the north shore. The RAVEN Flight Crew landed on the shore and made contact with the male. The male immediately led Sheriff's crewmembers to the area where his wife was lying. The female was assessed and found to be extremely hypothermic due to having capsized her kayak.

Due to the patients' critical physical condition, the RAVEN Flight Crew members elected to transport the husband and wife to Renown Regional Medical Center directly rather than wait for Care Flight or REMSA to arrive from a significant distance.

RAVEN Flight Crew delivered the patients to Renown medical staff at Pickett Park, where they were admitted for further treatment and examination. After this, the RAVEN Flight Crew returned to Stampede Reservoir to recover the HASTY Team members who remained behind due to weight considerations.

The RAVEN Flight Crew recovered the HASTY Team members and returned to the Stead Hangar without incident.

After the rescue mission, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office received several sincere messages of thanks from friends and colleagues of the rescued husband and wife.

These messages credit the Washoe County Sheriff's Office RAVEN Flight Crew, Search and Rescue and HASTY Team members involved in this mission for saving their loved ones lives.

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